Blinds



F. GRIESSER Feb. 25, 1969 BLINDS Filed NOV. 14, 1966 United StatesPatent C 3,429,355 BLINDS Friedrich Griesser, Aadorf, Thurgau,Switzerland, assignor to Griesser A.G., Aadorf, Thurgau, SwitzerlandFiled Nov. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 594,232 Claims priority, applicationSwitzerland, Dec. 3, 1965,

16,695/ 65 U.S. Cl. 160-133 5 Claims Int. Cl. E06b 9/204 ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A Venetian blind having a plurality of pivotal slats havingeach a first and a second opposed longitudinal edge. A first tape ateach end of said slats with means pivotally connecting each slat to saidfirst tapes. A drum having a draw tape fixed thereto for being wound upthereon to raise said blind. Means pivotally connecting said firstlongitudinal edge of each slat to said draw tape so that upon a completelowering of said blind further rotation of said drum in the same senseas during lowering causes said slats to pivot to their open position. Asecond tape pivotally connected to said second longitudinal edge of oneof said plurality of slats and connected to said drum so that upon acomplete lowering of said blind further rotation of said drum in thesame sense as during lowering causes said second tape to be wound up onsaid drum to pivot said plurality of slats to open position.

This invention relates to a Venetian blind wherein separate means suchas an additional tape positively causes the slats to open.

The present invention relates to Venetian blinds having a plurality ofslats the ends of which are pivotally connected to tapes and the innerlongitudinal edges of which are pivotally connected to a draw tapeconnected to a drum around which the draw tape can be rolled up, wherebythe blind is completely lowered the slats can be pivoted to their openposition by rotating the drum in the same direction as for lowering theblinds. When the blinds are completely lowered, the slats are locatedbetween a pair of guide rails. Continued rotation of the drum in thesame direction should permit the slats to pivot to the open position asa result of their own weight. However, because of friction in the slatpivots their Weight is often insuflicient to ensure that the slats pivotto the open position.

An object of the invention is an arrangement that positively causes theslats to open.

This and other objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description of one embodiment, with reference to thefigures of the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a portion of the blinds, slats open;

FIG. 2 is a rear view showing a portion of the upper end of the blinds;and

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross section of the upper end of the blinds, slatsopen.

Referring to the figures, the illustrated Venetian blinds have aplurality of slats 1, formed of sheet metal, for example, and slightlycurved in cross section. Each slat incorporates along its innerlongitudinal edge an upwardly curving bead 2 and along its outerlongitudinal edge a downwardly curving bead 3. Each end of a slat ispivotally connected to a steel guide tape 4. For this purpose, a pivotpin 5 is mounted on each end of a slat by means of a ange. As shown inFIG. 1, a pivot pin 5 turns in a sheet metal eye 6 the feet of which arespot welded or riveted to the tape 4.

Each of the two tapes 4 passes through a guide rail 7.

3,429,355 Patented Feb. 25, 1969 An end rail (not shown) is connected tothe lower ends of the tapes 4.

The upper ends of the rails 7 terminate in an expansion (FIG. 3) thelower portion of which serves as a stop for a small block 15 connectedto the upper end of each tape 4, when the blinds are lowered.

The wind-up drum 8 is shown at FIGS. 2 and 3. One end of the drum has adrive wheel (not shown) incorporating a toothed rim engaging a geartrain driven by a crank.

A metal strap 10 holds two spaced steel draw tapes 9' to the drum 8. Allof the slats 1, excepting the four uppermost (see FIG. 3), are pivotallyconnected along their inner edges to the tapes 9. Each slat incorporatestwo cutouts neighboring the bead 2 and each aligned with a tape 9. Aneye 11, made of synthetic plastic, for example, passing around the bead2 and through each cutout of a Slat, is connected to the respectivetapes 9. The bead 2 thus acts as a pivot pin in the eyes 11.

The four upper slats (FIGS. 2, 3) are successively connected together byone or more tapes (not shown) to form a nonpivoting portion of theblinds. The draw tapes 9 each pass through a guide element associatedwith the topmost one of these four slats.

One end of a convxely curved lever 12 is pivotally connected to one endof the outer longitudinal edge of the uppermost pivotal slat 1. Theother end of the lever is pivotally connected to a steel tape 13, whichis connected to, and can be wound up on, a portion l14 of the drum 8having a smaller diameter. As shown at FIG. 3, the tape 13 passespart-way around the drum in the sense opposite to that of the tapes 9.As shown also at FIG. 3, the uppermost pivotal slat is heavier in crosssection to provide a stronger slat. If the blinds are wide, two tapes 13can be provided, one connected to each end of the slat. The lever 12 maybe approximately as long as a slat 1 is wide.

As shown at FIGS. l and 3, the lever 12 passes through a cutout in thelowermost nonpivoting Slat 1.

When the blinds are completely lowered, the block 15 rests in the upperexpansion of the rails 7 and the slats 1 themselves are located betweenthe rails 7. IIn this position, the draw tapes 9 are not entirelyunwound, whereas the tape 13 is, and is taut. Further rotation of thedrum 8 in the same direction (counter clockwise as seen in FIG. 3) willfurther unwind the tapes 9 and simultaneously begin to wind up the tape13 in the reverse sense, which latter raises the outer edge of theuppermost pivotal slat 1, forcing all of the pivotal blinds l1 to turnto their open position, as shown at FIG. l.

The invention admitting of various modifications, its scope is limitedsolely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A venetian blind comprising a plurality of pivotal slats having eacha first and a second opposed longitudinal edge, a first tape at each endof said slats, means pivotally connecting each slat to said first tapes,a drum, a draw tape fixed to said drum for being wound up thereon toraise said blind, means pivotally connecting said first longitudinaledge of each slat to said draw tape so that upon a complete lowering ofsaid blind further rotation of said drum in the same sense as duringlowering causes said slats to pivot to their open position, a secondtape pivotally connected to said second longitudinal edge of one of saidplurality of slats and connected to said drum so that upon a completelowering of said blind further rotation of said drum in the same senseas during lowering causes said second tape to be wound up on said drumto pivot said plurality of slats to open position, said second tapebeing pivotally connected to a slat adjacent said drum by means of alever pivotally connected at one end to said second longitudinal edge ofsaid last named slat and the other end being pivotally connected to theend of said second tape 3. A blind as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidlever is 5 approximately as long as said last named slat is wide.

4. A blind as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said slats and saidlever are convex in cross section.

5. A blind as set forth in claim 1 wherein the diameter of said drum issmaller where said second tape is con- 10 nected thereto than where saiddraw tape is connected.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1961 Griesser 160-133 X 6/1967Griesser 160133 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,008,l24 lO/ 1965 Great Britain.

PETER M. CAUN, Primary Examiner.

U.S. C1. X.R. 57-144

